Author: Buffalo Winter

Hurricanes & Knights Win

Hurricanes 4 – Capitals 0 (SC QTR Finals 2-1 Carolina) The Hurricanes tied for the most home wins during the regular season and now undefeated through the playoffs while holding the NHL all-time goal scoring leader pointless this series have efficiently taken the series lead.

Knights 4 – Oilers 3 (SC QTR Finals 2-1 Edmonton) A heartbreaking deflection with 0.4th of a second remaining in the third period preventing overtime afforded the Knights their solitary win avoiding a potential sweep.

TODAY’S MATCHUPS

Jets vs Stars 4:30pm (SC QTR Finals tied 1-1)

Maple Leafs vs Panters 7:30pm (SC QTR Finals 2-1 Toronto)

Capitals & Oilers Win

Capitals 3 – Hurricanes 1 (SC QTR Finals tied 1-1) Washington’s procurement of a goaltender this summer has brought a solid above .900% save percentage to the Capitals and last night goaltender Thompson allowed just one goal, a power play during the third period when Washington was outshot 17-7 by Carolina.

Oilers 5 – Knights 4 (OT) (SC QTR Finals 2-0 Edmonton) The Oilers strong offense has earned them a 2-0 series lead and home ice advantage with the real possibility of a sweep if Nevada cannot pick up their scoring.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUPS

Maple Leafs vs Panthers 7pm (SC QTR Finals 2-0 Toronto)

Stars vs Jets 9:30pm (SC QTR Finals 1-0 Dallas)

Former Sabres player Eric Staal has come back to Buffalo

Here along the Lake Yesterday Jourdon Labarber reported that former Sabres Alternate Captain Eric Staal has be hired by the Sabres as a “special assistant” to General Manager Adams.

It is a solid move by Buffalo to get GM Adams an assistant, particularly someone who has played for the Sabres (32 games), beat us in the semi-finals that led to him to winning a Cup (2006), and has over 20 NHL/AHL seasons of player experience.

This appears to be the first step in becoming a general manager for Mr. Staal, hopefully the knowledge and experience he gains here in Buffalo will eventually lead him to earn the GM position here instead of watching Buffalo players/coaches before him who have become GMs or assistant GMs elsewhere, (for example Chris Drury & Jim Schoenfeld).

Toronto & Dallas Triumph

Maple Leafs 4 – Stars 3 (SC QTR Finals 2-0 Toronto) Toronto only took 20 SOG and made the Florida netminder appear quite pedestrian, the referees also gave a Maple Leafs center two roughing penalties at the same time even though one of his “victims” received an embellishment penalty.

Toronto had a strong response in the third period just 17 seconds after Florida tied the game at three with RW Marner putting the Maple Leafs back in front 4-3 and Toronto convincingly held off the Panthers the rest of the way.

Stars 3 – Jets 2 (SC QTR Finals tied 1-1) The Stars RW Rantanen scored a natural hat trick in the second period and the Jets could not recover and if Winnipeg plans to win down in Texas, they had better begin scoring on the power play.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUPS

Hurricanes vs Capitals 7pm (SC QTR Finals 1-0 Carolina)

Oilers vs Knights 9:30pm (SC QTR Finals 1-0 Edmonton)

Hurricanes & Oilers are Road Warriors

Hurricanes 2 – Capitals 1 (OT) (Series 1-0 Carolina) Washington managed only 14 SOG (none in overtime) all evening relying solely on their goaltender and did not appear ready for the game.

The Capitals were forced into 32 blocked shots compared to 9 blocked shots by Carolina and the Hurricanes outshot the Capitals 32 -14 while dishing out 44 hits.

Oilers 4 – Knights 2 (Series 1-0 Edmonton) The Oilers spotted the home team the early first period 2-0 lead then with three and a half minutes remaining Oilers RW Perry recorded his third goal of the playoffs to make the score 2-1 to end the first period.

Edmonton outshot the Knights 12 – 1 in the second period but could not score then one minute into the third period Oilers center Draisaitl tied the game at two before Edmonton scores twice more in 72 seconds for the 4-2 lead with less than two minutes to play to earn the first win of the series.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUPS (SC QTR Finals)

Panthers vs Maple Leafs 7pm (Series 1-0 Toronto)

Stars vs Jets 9:30pm (Series Gm 1)